Change maker



June 25, 1957 c. GABRIELSEN CHANGE MAKER 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 24. 1953 INVENTOR. C H/s mw Gaap/a 554/ BY L M 4free/VEV- "mi @o June 25, 1957 c. GABRIELSEN CHANGE MAKER Filed Aug. 24, 1953 Iii/7114 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 HTTOPA/Y CHANGE R Christian Gabrielsen, Mountain Lakes, N. J., assignor to Rowe Manufacturing Co., Inc., Whippany, N. J., a corporation of New Jersey Application August Z4, 1953, Serial No. 375,933

Claims. (Cl. 133--2) My invention relates to a change maker for use in a merchandising machine and more particularly to an improved change maker which is inexpensive to manufacture, simple in construction, smooth and quiet in operation, and in which the possibility of the dispensing mechanism becoming jammed due toa bent coin is minimized.

Change makers `of the prior art adapted -for use in merchandising machines are expensive to manufacture, diflicult to maintain and are subject to jamming in the event a bent coin is engaged by the dispensing mechanism. These devices employ la reciprocating member which is positively actuated to force or punch coins from columns of coins making up the `change maker supply. In the event a bent coin is engaged by this reciprocating member, the machine may jam `and parts are apt to be bent or broken. Moreover, these reciprocating dispensing members .are Iactuated by solenoids which are notoriously jerky and noisy in operation. I have invented an improved change maker which is adapted to dispense coins to make change smoothly and quietly and which minimizes the possibility of parts becoming bent or broken in the event the dispensing mechanism is jammed by a bent coin in the coin supply. Further, my improved change maker is provided with means whereby the possibility 0f jamming itself as a result of bent coins is lessened.

One object of my invention is to provide an improved change maker which is simple in construction, inexpensive to manufacture, and smooth and quiet in operation.

Another object of my invention is to prov-ide an improved change maker in which the possibility of injury to parts as a result of jamming by a bent coin is minimized.

Yet `another object of my invention is to provide 'an improved change maker -in which the possibility of jamming of the dispensing mechanism by a bent coin is lessened.

A further object of my invention is to provide an improved ohange maker Which may be simply modified to dispense various combinations of change.

Other and further objects of my invention will appear from the following description.

In general my invention contemplates the provision of a change maker including a plurality of tubes containing coins to be dispensed as change and a support plate arranged below -the tubes to support the columns of coins. A dispensing plate provided with coin pockets is disposed between the tube ends and the support plate so that its pockets register With the respective tubes to receive coins. I provide a motor and actuating linkage to slide the dispensing plate from under the tubes to carry, by means of its pockets, `coins from the tubes into a change return chute. This actuating linkage automatically disengages from the dispensing plate to operate as a lost motion connection in the event ya bent coin in the supply jams the dispensing plate.

In the accompanying drawings which form part of the instant specification and which are to be read in conjunction therewith and in which like reference 4numerals are used to indicate like parts in the various views:

2,796,876 Patented June 25, 1957 Figure l is a front elevation of my improved change maker.

Figure 2 is a fragmentary sectional view on van enlarged scale taken along the line 2 2 of Figure l of a portion of my improved change maker, with parts removed.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary front elevation on an enlarged scale of a portion `of my improved change maker.

Figure 4 is a rfragmentaryperspective view of the dispensing plate actuating mechanism of my improved change maker with parts removed.

More particularly referring now to the drawings, I mount `a number of penny coin tubes 12 and a nickle coin tube 14 on a panel 10 by means `of support brackets 16 fixed to the panel 10 by any suitable means such as screws 1S. It will be :appreciated that the number of nickel tubes and penny tubes maybe varied as desired to provide the proper 'combinations of coins in change. I have selected three penny tubes and one nickel tube as being convenient. It is to be noted also that a plurality of tubes may `be mounted one on top of the other to provide :a continuous column for coins so that the number of coins contained in each column may be any desired amount. The top tube of a col-umn of nested tubes is held in position by a lug 20 attached to the to-p ybracket `16 by a screw 2.2. The bottom-s of the tubes are supported on an angle bracket 24 fixed to panel 10 by any appro priate means such as screws or rivets 26. The horizontal flange 25 of bracket 24 is formed with sockets 28 for the reception of the bottom of the lowest tulbeof a column of nested tubes and the interior of each of the sockets 28 is formed with an opening so that coins in the associated tube may pass through the bracket. A pair of .springs 36 carried by bolts 32 secured to bosses 34 formed on llange 25 mount a support plate 30 beneath flange 25 to support the columns of coins in the respective coin tubes. Bosses 34 space plate 30 from flange 2S to provide a space in which I slidably mount a coin dispensing slide 38. Springs 36 resiliently urge support plate 30 into engagement with thebosses 34 to allow support plate 30 to move downwardly in the event a bent coin is engaged by dispensing slide 38 during a dispensing operation.

Plate 38 has coin pockets 40 formed therein which register with the openings in the ends of the respective tubes 12 and 14 when plate 38 is slid to a position where it receives coins. The diameters of the various pockets 40 are such as will accommodate coins from the respective coin tubes arranged thereabove. It is to be noted that slide 33 -is formed with dilerential thickness so that the coin pocket below a particular tube will be ofv a depth which will accommodate only a single coin from the tube. As shown, slide 38 is thicker below the nickel tube 14 than it is below the penny tubes 12 since nickels are thicker than pennies. The space between the horizontal ange 25 of angle bracket 24 and support bracket 3) and the differential thickness of plate 38 are such that only a single coin from any one of the columns will fall into a pocket 40. l

The rest or neutral position of plate 38 is such that pockets 4t) register with the openings in tubes 12 and 14 and receive coins therefrom. Alternately, I may arrange my change maker so that in its neutral position the right end of slide 38 as viewed in Figures 2 and 4 supports the columns of coins, and the plate 38 must first be moved to the right to receive coins in its pockets 4t) and then moved tothe left to dispense. This alternate neutral or rest position of dispensing slide 38 provides a more certain operation in that there is less chance that a coin above the coin to be dispensed will engage with the perimeter of the particular coin pocket and arrest the movement of slide 38. The adjustment of the neutral position of slide 3S can be accomplished by varying the otter-.al1 length of links A108 .and 112 .by .screws 114 in slots 116.

Referring now to Figures 2 and 4, an angle bar 42 is welded to the `underside yof dispensing. plate .38 to the left of support plate 30. An actuating rod 44 is fixed in this angle bar by any appropriate means such las welding or the like. .In wings 4'6 on the ends of angle bracket 24 I rotatably mount a shaft 48. On one end of the shaft 48 l mount `for Yrotation ltherewith a bell crank, indicated generally by the reference character 50, by means of a hub 52 formed on bell crank 50 and lheld on shaft 48 by a 'pin 54. fOne arm 56 of crank 50 is bifurcated and engages the rod 44. It will be clear that when bell crank 50 is rotated in a clockwise direction, as viewed in Figures 2 and V4, the lbifurcated arm 56 will move rod 44 and dispensing slide'38 to the' left. To provide a parallel motion connection between the ends vof dispensing slide 38, I fix a crank V"58 on the end ofshdt 48 removed from Athe end to which bell crank '50 is secured. The

crank 58 engages the other end of rod 44 so that when bell lcrank 50 is rotated, both ends of slide 38 will be pulled to the left as viewed in Figure 4. The other arm 60 of -bell crank 50 has a pin 62 'formed on its end.

The circuit of the drive motor 64 of my coin changer is initially completed through a switch 66 actuated by any 'suitable coin register as is well known in the art. One coin register which is adapted to complete the circuit of such a switch is that disclosed in the copending application of Christian Gabrielsen and John F. Morrison, Serial No. 166,045, filed June 30, 1950, now Patent No. 2,677,450. Motor 64 is mounted Aon a plate 72 by any suitable means such as bolts 68 passing through bushings 70. Plate 72 is in turn mounted on a bracket 74 by means of bolts 76 `and spaced 'therefrom by sleeves 78. Bracket '74 is carried by the panel 10.and fixed theretor by -machine screws '80 as can be seen by reference to Figure 2.

vMotor 64 drives shaft 82 which vpasses through plate 72 and which Vhas a pinion 84 formed on its end. Pinion 84.drives a'gear 86 mounted on a stub shaft 88 rotatably carried by plate 72. Stub shaft 88` -has a pinion 90l formed on its end which drives agear 92 fixed on a stub shaft-94 passing through an opening in bracket 74 and carried in a bearing bracket 96 secured to bracket 74 bybolts 98 and spaced therefrom by-bushings 100.

A crank 102 is carried onthe end of shaft 94 for rotation ,therewith to the right -ofbearing bracket 96 as viewed in Figure 2. A pin 104 on the end of crank 102 rides in a horizontal slot 106 formed in the lower end of Va link 108 as can readily be seen by reference Vto Figure 1 and is retained therein by a washer 109. .As crank 102 rotates, pin 104 drives -link 108 with a vertical reciprocatory motion through slot 106. Link 10S is attached to an angle -ange 110 of drive link112 by any lappropriate means such as machine screws k114m slots 116 in link 108. vSlots V116 provide a means -by which the over-all length of links 108 and 112 may be varied. It -is to be noted that I employ the pin 104 and horizontal slot 106 as a drive in order that no twisting torque be ap-A plied to links 108 and 112.

Referring-now to Figure 2, `a vertical slot 118 is formed in the top of link -112 and has a .re-entrant portion 120 formed along lits length. Pin 62 on arm 60 ofbell crank 50 is adapted to engage re-entrant portion 120 of slot 11-8. A spring 119-is secured at one end tothe ltop of link 112 by-an opening 121 and at the fother end of a fitting 123 on the tpanel 10. Spring 1'19'urges link 112 in a direction such that a resilient engagement between pin 62 and re-entran't portion 120 'of 'slot 118 is provided. Bell crank 50 is held in position with'reference to link 1:12 by a washer 122 held -on -the 'end 'of pin 62 byany appropriate .means such as a cotter pin 125. .As link `112 is lmoved downwardly from the position shown .in Figure 2, .re-entrant `portion 120 .will pull .pin 62 downwardly and thereby rotate bell crank 50 Yin a clockwise `direction to move dispensing slide 38 to the left to drop coins from its pockets into a coin chute 124 fixed on panel 10 by screws 126 and arranged below the position occupied by dispensing plate 38 when the latter has been moved to the left.

If one of the coins to be dispensed from a column is bent, the movement ofthe dispensing slide 38 to the left may be prevented by the engagement of the bent coin withv the lower edge of its coin tube. is, Vtof course, lessened bythe resilient mounting of support plate 30. If, however, the movement 'of slide 38 is: prevented for this or any other reason, spring 119 stretches to permit pin 62 to cam out of the re-entrant portion 120 as link 112 moves downwardly and rides in slot 118. This action tilts link 112 slightly to the right as viewed in Figure 2 and prevents any of the parts from being broken or bent. The connection between link 108 and pin 164 is suiciently loose to permit this tilting without distortion of either of the links 112 or 108.

Since switch 66 is closed only momentarily by the coin register and a Vcomplete cycle of rotation of the shaft 82 of motor 64 is necessary for a dispensing operation, I mount a holding switch 128 on frame 10 by any suitable means. Holding switch 128 is a normally closed switch, adapted to Complete `a circuit through the motor. The holding switch has an actuating arm 130. The arrangement is such that when link 108 is in the rest position before a change making cycle has been initiated, as shown inFigure l, a pin 132 on link 108 engages arm 130 to hold the switch in 'its 'open' position. 'When link 108 is moved downwardly, its pin 132 no longer engages arm 130 and switch 128 closes-to complete the motor circuit. When a revolution of motor 64 has been completed, pin 132 a'g'ai'n' engages arm 130 'to open switch 128 and stop the motor. The change maker is then ready for the next4 as viewed in Figure Y2 through its re-entrant portion 120,

and thereby slides dispensing slide 38 to the left. The coin pockets 40 in dispensing slide 38 pull coins from the column in tubes 12 and 14 out over the end of support plate 30 and drop them into the coin delivery chute '124. As crank 102 continues to rotate, link Y108 passes through its lowest position and begins -to move upwardly. In the movement it returns pockets 40 to their positions under the respective coin tubes. It is to be understood that plate 38 has suicient Width such that its right-hand end, as viewed in Figure 2, will not pass beyond tubes 12 and 14 so that coins could drop behind the dispensing slide and block its return movement. When motor 64 has reached a point near the end of a cycle of rotation, the pin 132 again engages arm 130 of switch 128 and opens the motor circuit allowing the linkage to come to rest in the position illustrated in Figure 1.

, Alternately, l could arrange bell crank 50 and slide 38 so that from rest position the slide would rst be moved to the right as viewed in Figure 2, to a position where its coin pockets 40 receive coins, and then returned to the lei't so that the coins are dropped in the chute. To ensure that coins are deposited in the pockets, slide 38 may be moved a slight amount beyond the tube openings in lits movement to the right. When I arrange my change maker in this manner, in its neutral or rest Yposition between dispensing operations the right end of slide 38, as viewed in Figures 2 and 4, will support the columns of coins .in tubes 12 and 14.

This possibility In the event a bent coin is engaged by slide 38 during its dispensing movement, it may engage the lower edge of its coin tube to prevent movement of the slide. If the degree of engagement is not appreciable, springs 36 may give to permit supportplate 30 to move downwardly sui- Ciently to permit the coin to be dispensed. `Thus the possibility of the dispensing plate being jammed by a bent coin is lessened. If, however, plate 38 is prevented from moving for this or any other reason, spring 119 stretches to permit pin 62 to cam the link 112 slightly to the right as viewed in Figure 2, when the link 112 moves downwardly. Slot 118 then merely rides idly on pin 62 and the possibility of injury to the parts of the change maker due to the bent coil is minimized. When link 112 again moves upwardly, pin 62 will reseat in re-entrant portion 120.

Thus it will be seen that I have accomplished the objects of my invention. I have provided a coin changer having a large capacity for coins which is inexpensive to manufacture and smooth and quiet in operation. My coin changer does not employ the solenoids of coin changers of the prior art and thereby eliminates the jerky and noisy motion inherent in solenoid operation. Moreover, my improved coin changer is provided with means operable to prevent injury to the parts of the mechanism in the event that the dispensing means is, for any reason such as a bent coin, restrained from movement. Means are provided which lessen the possibility of jamming due to bent coins.

It will be understood that certain features and subcombinations are of utility and may be employed without reference to other features and subcombinations. This is contemplated by and is within the scope of my claims. It is further obvious that various changes may be made in details within the scope of my claims without departing from the spirit of my invention. It is therefore to be understood that my invention is not to be limited to the speciiic details shown and described.

Having thus described my invention, what I. claim is:

1. A change maker including in combination a coin tube containing a supply of coins to be dispensed, a support plate arranged below said tube to support the supply of coins, a dispensing slide disposed between said tube and said support plate positioned to engage a coin on the support plate, a link formed with a slot having a reentrant portion, means including a pin disposed in said slot -for connecting said link to said slide, drive means for said link, means loosely connecting said link to said drive means, said drive means being adapted normally to drive said link in a given plane, biasing means for urging said link to engage said reentrant slot portion with said pin to permit said link to drive said slide, said biasing means and said link mounting means permitting said link to move out of said plane when said slide is restrained from movement.

2. A change maker as in claim 1 including resilient means for mounting said support plate below said coin tube.

3. A change maker as in claim 1 in which said drive means includes a motor and crank means connecting said motor to said link to reciprocate the link.

4. A change maker as in claim 1 in which said means connecting said link to said slide comprises a bell crank having a pair of arms, means mounting said pin on one of said arms, and including a rotatable shaft for pivotally mounting said bell crank adjacent said link, a rod carried by said slide, the other arm of said bell crank engaging one end of said rod and a second crank carried by said shaft for rotation therewith, said second crank engaging the other end of said rod whereby said bell crank and said second crank form a parallel motion connection for reciprocating said slide.

5. A change maker including in combination a coin tube containing a supply of coins to be dispensed, ay

support plate arranged below said tube to support the supply of coins, a dispensing slide disposed between said tube Iand said support plate positioned to engage a coin on the support plate, a link having one portion disposed in a rst plane and a second portion disposed in a plane at right angles to the first plane, drive means for said link, means loosely mounting said one link portion on said drive means, said other link portion having a slot formed with a reentrant portion, means including a pin disposed in said slot for connecting said link to said slide and means for biasing said link to engage said reentrant slot portion with said pin normally to provide a driving connection between said link and said slide, said biasing means being adapted to yield when said slide is restrained from movement to permit relative movement between said link and said slide, said link mounting means permitting said relative movement.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 524,571 Bartelt Aug. 14, 1894 1,089,206 Gaibis Mar. 3, 1914 1,158,537 Muzzy Nov. 2, 1915 1,315,416 Rindfleisch Sept. 9, 1919 1,625,242 Chandler Apr. 19, 1927 1,801,796 Chalmers Apr. 21, 1931 1,961,537 Velazquez June 5, 1934 2,132,229 Breitenstein Oct. 4, 1938 2,273,948 Forslund Feb. 24, 1942 2,527,385 Alix Oct. 24, 1950 FOREIGN PATENTS 553,113 France of 1923 

